In Gansbaai, the largest white shark ever caught was at Danger Point and measured up to 5.9m. The exact world record white shark is a contested issue, but chances are it is between 6-7m.

If you see a white shark in the water don’t panic. Chances are high that the shark has already detected you and isn’t interested. White shark attacks are normally associated with poor visibility, so avoid murky conditions.

White sharks have a unique system called a “counter current heat exchange”, which keeps their body tempreture +/- 7C above the surrounding water temperature.

All sharks have an incredibly unique system on the tip of their nose called the “ampillae of Lorenzini”. These are small pores filled with a gel that transmits the electrical currents in the water to the shark’s brain so that it can assess its environment.

White sharks give birth to live young (not eggs), and they give birth to 6-8 pups at one time. Pups are usually between 1.0-1.5m in length and are born with teeth.

Body language has been a well documented form of shark communication and has identified body arching, jaw gaping, and other postures as specific social tactics.

Sharkwatch SA Blog

Marine Dynamics teams up with Shark Stanley

Author: Michelle Wcisel (Marine Biologist)To Michelle, a born and bred American from Michigan, the sea resembles another planet within Earth where intelligent "extraterrestrial" beings and thriving systems flourish in the depths where there is neither oxygen nor sunlight. "So many of us gaze at the stars in wonder when we should be looking into our oceans!"

Our Marine Volunteers jumped at the chance to take Shark Stanley and friends out to sea in order to protect sharks. But how does a shark cut out help with conservation?

From Shark Defenders: "In March 2013, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna (CITES) meeting will take place in Bangkok. With 176 member countries, this multilateral agreement protects more than 30,000 species globally and plays a powerful and key role in preventing extinction of many plants and animals by ensuring sustainable rates of trade.

There are three shark proposals and one manta ray proposal on the table for Appendix II CITES listing:

The Scalloped Hammerhead Shark, one of the most iconic and endangered shark species with some of the most valuable fins in the market. Listed as Endangered globally on the IUCN Red List, hammerheads often aggregate, making them even more vulnerable to overfishing.

The Porbeagle Shark, a large, warm-blooded temperate water shark targeted for both its large fins and meat. Their populations have been reduced by around 70%.

The Oceanic Whitetip Shark, an open ocean species with large, highly valued fins; Critically Endangered in parts of it range and Vulnerable globally.

Oceanic and Reef Manta Rays, some of the most stunningly charismatic wildlife in the oceans. Listed as Vulnerable globally, they have been targeted in recent years for an emerging international market for their gill rakers, which they use to filter plankton. Some populations have declined by as much as 85%.

At the CITES meeting in 2010, the passing of several shark proposals was only narrowly missed, needing only a small number of votes to pass. 2013 will be their year at CITES: the science is crystal clear, now we just need to do everything we can to make sure our country’s representatives vote YES!"

Marine Dynamics shark tours was contacted by the group spearheading this campaign (Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, the Pew Environment Group, Shark Savers, and Shark Defenders) in order to bring Stanley to South Africa - a countr where the CITES ruling will have an immediate effect. So please, get Stanley out in your neiborhood now and start casting your vote for shark and ray protection.

If your organization would like to partner with Shark Stanley at CITES, put a link to this page on your website, then email us your logo and five photos of your friends with Shark Stanley to info@sharkdefenders.com. We'll post your logo and link to your website on a special sponsors' page.

If you work with kids in schools, aquariums, museums (wherever!), we’d love to provide our activity booklet for free or help you to design a workshop on shark conservation.

Shark Science

"Great White Sharks have a sixth sense, their eyes are blue and they each have personalities"

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Shark Tweople on Twitter

What would a great white shark say on twitter? @MarineDynamics Just had a 15kg tuna, delicious! or perhaps @YellowFinTuna IM COMING TO GET YOU!!!

Did you know: Great White Sharks use body language to communicate. As far as we know, white sharks do not produce noises, other than slapping their jaws. Body language has been a well documented form of communication and has identified body arching, jaw gaping, and other postures as specific social tactics.